Month: May 2017

Ex-investment banker Chidi Oti-Obihara has lived in Beckton for 6 years and is standing on a platform for improving local lives

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I’m proud to announce that our candidate for East Ham is now Beckton-based Chidi Oti-Obihara!

Michael (on phone) and Chidi having just finished registering on the ballotChidi Oti-Obihara lives in Beckton and became a member of the Green Party while working with us on our investigations into Newham Council’s mis-sold Lender Option, Borrower Option (‘LOBO’) loans.

Previously an Investment Banker, Chidi turned whistle-blower in 2007 and testified to Parliament about the practices he’d witnessed and been bullied for not colluding with. He now works as an independent financial consultant.

Chidi said “It’s a bittersweet moment for me as I became involved in the party largely because of Rachel, so it’s a shame to have this opportunity due to her standing down. However, it’s a huge honour to have been selected by the membership to represent the party, and especially my own neighbourhood!”

Chidi Oti-Obihara has lived in Beckton for 6 years and is standing on a platform for improving local lives:

“My part of the borough – Beckton and the Royal Docks, nearby – has been rather neglected by local government. There isnt enough sustainable planning. Whenever investment does appear, it’s privately funded or uses opaque private-partnerships that rarely meets the needs of local people. The air pollution, which is disgraceful across London, is particularly bad in parts of the borough due to the sewage works, the airport and the endless building works. The air is constantly full of dust particles and unpleasant smells. We deserve better, and that’s a large part of why I want to stand in East Ham.”

Chidi is also keen to discuss the problems with some of the privatisation in local government – such as the use of LOBOs by many local authorities. “Having worked in finance for over 15 years, I’ve seen both sides of the coin. I know some of the more questionable practices used in selling products. We know that Newham Council is by no means alone in having been mis-sold these loans, and I hope we can push this topic into the national agenda.”

Today’s news is very poignant for us – as we have to announce Rachel Collinson is standing down as a candidate for the upcoming ‘snap’ election. Rachel needs to focus on recovering from current health problems and felt unable to adequately meet the demands of the candidacy, in addition to her other duties for the Party.

We fully support her decision and wish her a full and fast recovery.

As a result, it’s been a roller-coaster week; we held a second selection meeting with the local membership, to vote again for candidates in both East Ham and West Ham constituencies.

It’s a pleasure to introduce Newham Green Party treasurer Michael Spracklin, who has been selected as our candidate for West Ham.

Support for Green policies is at an all-time high and the party have built a strong presence in Newham. Last year the Newham Greens candidate came second in a by-election in Forest Gate North, with 31% of the vote.

The picture of a working class boy done good, Michael has always lived in East London, and is an IT Consultant in central London, but he never lost his roots and has campaigned for social equality and more social housing for many years.

Michael hopes to engage disillusioned voters. “During our EU Referendum campaigning last year, we spoke to countless people who didn’t plan to vote because they didn’t feel their vote mattered. Newham’s residents deserve to have a voice, and many currently feel that they don’t.”

Michael is passionate about politics and a big believer in social justice and equality; he has campaigned for left-wing causes as long as he can remember. “Newham Green Party have been working towards a fairer borough, through campaigns against the council’s LOBO loans, the increase in fly-tipping, expansion of London City Airport, and big new developments which don’t meet the needs – or budgets – of local people.”

Michael added “I’m also proud of our long history of supporting like-minded grass roots activists like the Focus E15 mothers, Friends of Queens Market, Newham Say No to Racism, BLM UK, and the Boleyn Dev100 campaign.”

“Nationally, we’re challenging the environmental, humanitarian and economic catastrophe that the UK now faces. The mainstream parties just bow down to the super-rich and lobbyists. I believe that the Tory government’s ideology driven “austerity” cuts should end. It’s grotesquely unfair. The super-rich, banks and multinational companies should take their losses and pay their taxes.

A green, fair and prosperous society is not only achievable but necessary.”

Michael has been our party treasurer for the past few years, and is an IT consultant by day. Mike is sadly one of the dwindling number of East London-born working class residents who has managed to live here his entire life, without being priced out. …Yet!

Concerns around housing and the rise in social injustice was a key part of why Michael joined the Green Party:

“The banks are still ripping us off – nothing has changed since 2008 to fix the system. The mainstream parties just bow down to the super-rich and lobbyists. I believe that the Tory government’s ideology driven “austerity” cuts should end. It’s grotesquely unfair. The super-rich, banks, and multinational companies should take their losses and pay their taxes.

A green, fair and prosperous society is not only achievable but necessary.“

This is his first time standing as a general election candidate, inspired by his time campaigning for recent elections in the borough. If you’ve spoken to us on your doorstep, at one of our stalls or community events, you may well remember meeting Mike.

One of Michael hopes for this election campaign is to encourage voter turnout and show disillusioned locals why the Green Party are a valid choice. “The EU Referendum turnout in Newham was the second lowest in the country. During our campaigning we spoke to countless people who didn’t plan to vote because they didn’t feel their vote mattered. Newham’s residents deserve to have a voice, and many currently feel that they don’t.”